538 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  30.  1898. 
LESSONS  OF  THE  SEASONS. 
SCKEENS  AND  HEDGES  FOR  SHELTER. 
Amongst  the  lessons  which  a  cold,  wet,  stormy  May  brought  to 
us,  the  necessity  for  a  provision  of  shelter,  and  a  very  general  lack  of 
it  around  gardens,  orchards,  and  fruit  plantations  was  certainly  one  of 
the  most  important.  Not  merely  was  it  enforced  by  the  scathing 
eflFect  of  cold  blasts  upon  tender  spring  foliage,  but  even  more  by  the 
earlier  opening  of  blossom  and  the  striking  rapidity  of  growth  in  every 
sheltered  nook  and  comer.  To  the  provision  of  such  shelter  one  has 
g'iven  much  thought,  in  view  of  arriving  at  the  best  possible  combina¬ 
tion  of  efficiency  with  economy.  Frequently  in  the  laying  out  of  new 
gardens  has  the  excavation  and  removal  of  soil  been  turned  to  account 
for  throwing  up  banks,  which,  planted  with  evergreens  of  free, 
vigorous  growth,  became  barriers  to  wind  more  quickly  than  anything 
else,  except  the  costly  masonry  of  lofty  walls.  It  is  obvious  that 
such  banks  may  also  be  rendered  ornamental  by  judicious  planting. 
In  the  preliminary  survey  tor  the  garden  at  Hutton  Castle  for 
Lord  Tweedmouth,  it  was  found  that  the  best  site  for  the  kitchen 
Fig.  101. — Myrobalan  Plum  as  a  Hedge  Plant. 
References 1,  As  received  from  the  nursery  and  planted  last  November,  2  to  3  feet 
in  height';  2,  Tliis  represents  No.  1  cut  down  immediately  after  it  was  planted  ; 
3,  Resultant  growth  this  spring.  The  plant  from  which  this  sketch  was  made 
on  May  11th  had  eighteen  shoots. 
garden  was  visible  from  the  courtyard  of  the  castle.  Subsequently  in 
the  design  I  met  the  difficulty  by  planting  out  the  kitchen  garden 
with  a  wide  belt  of  Pinus  austriaca  and  Larch,  which  also  would 
afford  it  shelter  from  north-east  wind,  and  become  an  effective  back¬ 
ground  to  a  ravine  whose  sides  were  to  bo  planted  with  Thorns, 
IMountain  Ash,  Silver  Birch,  Crabs,  Prunus,  Laburnum,  and  Maples, 
with  a  semi-wild  undergrowth  of  Gorse,  Bramble,  Briars,  and  Honey¬ 
suckle.  Mention  is  made  of  this  as  an  example  of  combining  utility 
with  ornamental  effect,  and  of  the  special  value  of  the  Austrian  Pine 
for  shelter,  its  dense  habit,  vigorous  growth,  and  hardiness  rendering 
it  especially  suitable  for  such  a  purpose.  Objection  is  sometimes 
taken  to  this  tree  for  its  sombre  hue,  but  in  this  instance  it  was  bound 
to  prove  effective  as  a  foil  to  the  neighbouring  deciduous  growth,  and 
as  imparting  warmth  and  finish  to  a  scene  that  would  become 
increasingly  beautiful  with  development. 
The  Scotch  Fir,  with  its  lighter  grey  foliage,  is  a  much  more 
general  favourite,  and  I  have  used  it  in  a  design  for  a  villa  garden  to 
be  planted  next  autumn.  The  house  is  being  built  in  a  field  near  a 
public  road,  which  is  on  the  north  side  of  it.  The  carriage  drive  will 
be  made  from  the  road  to  the  house  through  a  belt  of  Scotch  Fir  and 
Larch,  with  an  undergrowth  of  shrubs,  and  a  border  of  flowering  trees 
and  shrubs  in  front.  This  belt  will  sweep  boldly  round  from  the 
north  to  the  east  side,  thus  giving  the  requisite  shelter  and  seclusion. 
The  matter  and  manner  of  it  is  so  self-evident  that  it  strikes  one  as 
being  almost  too  simple  to  mention,  but  then  there  is  no  getting  over 
the  fact  that  an  adequate  provision  of  shelter  is  so  frequently  forgotten 
in  the  laying  out  of  gardens  even  in  the  most  exposed  situations. 
Expense  has  very  little  to  do  with  the  matter.  Failing  means 
or  convenience  for  wall,  banks,  or  tree  belts,  a  hedge  is  possible  for 
everyone.  Hedges  of  hard  wood  are  in  almost  universal  use  by 
nurserymen  as  wind  screens,  such  hedges  being  grown  to  a  height  of 
10  or  12  feet  in  about  six  years.  I  have  cause,  from  experience,  to 
prefer  the  Myrobalan  Plum  for  this  purpose,  by  its  dense  and  rapid 
growth,  and  have  for  the  last  six  or  seven  years  done  what  I  could  to 
advocate  the  planting  of  it  around  gardens,  allotments,  and  fruit 
plantations.  Easy  enough  is  it  to  give  advice  in  such  a  matter,  but 
judging  from  results  it  appears  impossible  to  induce  amateurs  to  apply 
the  few  cultural  hints  which  should  render  success  a  certainty.  An 
object  lesson  was  wanted,  and  in  proof  of  the  truth  of  the  axiom  that 
all  things  come  to  him  who  waits,  my  opportunity  came  last  year, 
vrhen  I  was  requested  to  lay  out  and  plant  a  fruit  plot  at  the  Midland 
Dairy  Institute.  I  may  have  something  to  say  about  this  and  other 
County  Council  fruit  plots  later  on ;  now  I  have  to  deal  with  the  hedge. 
The  site  of  this  particular  plot  was  so  bleak  that  I  decided  to- 
enclose  it  with  a  hedse  of  Myrobalan  Plum,  as  the  best  means  of 
affording  speedy  and  efficient  shelter,  and  moreover  as  an  object  lesson> 
for  those  whom  it  is  my  duty  to  instruct  in  such  matters.  The  soil 
for  the  plot  had  been  carefully  prepared  during  the  summer,  and  the- 
hedge  was  planted  early  in  November.  Healthy  well-rooted  plants, 
2  to  3  feet  in  height,  were  obtained  at  the  rate  of  40s.  per  1000.  They 
were  planted  in  a  single  row  a  foot  apart,  and  cut  down  to  about 
9  inches  immediately  after  the  planting,  the  clean  stumps  so  left 
having  no  prominent  appearance  of  buds. 
Quite  delightful  was  it  this  spring  to  watch  the  growth,  bursting 
out  thickly  on  every  stem.  The  hedge  now  (June  9th)  is  quite 
dense  with  growth,  most  of  the  shoots  being  upwards  of  a  foot  in 
length  and  lull  of  vigour.  Special  mention  is  made  of  details, 
because  of  the  advice  usually  given  to  plant  6  inches  apart,  and  also 
because  the  plants  are  generally  left  unpruned,  with  the  most  unsatis¬ 
factory  result  of  feeble  growth  and  a  wasted  first  year  after  planting. 
It  is  intended  to  have  this  hedge  12  feet  high,  dnd  I  shall  be  glad  to- 
have  the  opinion  of  other  planters  as  to  how  long  it  wilbbe  in  reaching 
that  height  under  the  requisite  clipping  to  Induce  a  compact  dense 
growth.  I  saw  stout  shoots  quite  6  feet  long  on  a  young  hedge  of 
this  Plum  last  year.  The  small  illustration  (fig.  101)  shows  the  start 
and  progress  of  the  plants  above  referred  to. — Edward  Luckhurst. 
A  LITTLE  MIXTURE. 
There  is  generally  a  varied  bill  of  fare  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture^ 
in  the  form  of  heavy  dishes  and  light  relieves  ;  but  I  thought  I  would* 
send  a  little  mixture  of  my  own  to  meet  the  taste  of  diverse  palates. 
Crat^gus  pyracantha  Lelandi. 
Generally  this  fine  berried  shrub  is  grown  on  walls,  where,  with  all 
its  beauty,  it  assumes  a  somewhat  formal  aspect.  Seldom  is  it  seen 
growing  in  bush  or  pyramidal  form,  and  yet  in  both  cases  when  in  bloom 
and  in  berry— but,  of  course,  in  the  latter  condition  most,  because  of  the 
rich  colour  of  its  fruit — it  is  most  attractive.  In  the  Coombe  Wood  Nursery 
of  Messrs.  Jas.  Veitch  &  Sons  there  is  the  finest  bush  of  this  shrub  I  have 
seen.  It  must  be  from  10  feet  to  12  feet  through  each  way,  and  a  day  or 
two  since  was  one  mass  of  snowy  whiteness.  When  in  November  next  it 
is  covered  with  berries  it  will  be  a  grand  object.  It  is  to  be  regretted 
that  this  shrub  has  not  been  planted  specially  to  form  lawn  specimens, 
for,  whether  in  flower  or  in  fruit,  this  Thorn  is  indeed  a  beautiful  object. 
HEDYkSARUM  mutijugum. 
This  is  a  somewhat  rare  hardy  deciduous  shrub  which  is  just  now  in 
charming  bloom  at  Coombe  Wood.  The  habit  is  bushy,  yet  spreading, 
the  foliage  of  the  Vetch  order,  and  much  resembling  that  of  the  Dianthus. 
The  flowers  are  purple  Pea-like,  and  borne  on  spikes  6  inches  long.  It  is 
a  very  charming  denizen  of  the  shrubbery,  but  should  have  a  forward 
position.  Evidently  it  likes  a  small  infusion  of  peat,  mixed  with  ordinary 
loam.  Magnolia  W atsoni,  the  best  and  most  sweetly  perfumed  of  all  the 
deciduous  varieties,  is  blooming  finely,  and  for  a  foliage  tree  it  would  be 
difficult  to  find  one  so  hardy  and  having  such  grand  leafage  as  has 
Magnolia  Fraseri,  for  the  leaves  are  some  8  to  9  inches  long,  and  broad- 
yet  pointed.  This  Magnolia  should  make  a  splendid  lawn  specimen. 
Lectures  at  Chiswick, 
Those  who  were  favoured  to  be  present  at  the  first  of  a  course  of  four 
lectures  on  various  subjects  related  to  gardening,  the  first  of  which  was 
delivered  in  the  great  vinery,  Chiswick,  by  the  Eev.  G.  Henslow,  on 
“Vegetable  Physiology,”  must  have  felt  a  species  of  homeishness, 
remembering  the  many  pleasant  gatherings  of  conference  form  which 
have  been  held  in  that  fine  building.  But  the  larger  portion  of  the 
gathering,  some  sixty  in  number,  were  young,  including  young  men  from 
the  gardens  from  Kew  and  elsewhere,  and  the  young  lady  students  at 
Kew  also.  Mr.  W.  Marshall,  of  the  R.H.S.  Council,  presided.  Mr. 
Henslow  is  a  most  lucid  lecturer,  and  readily  makes  plain,  in  simple  and 
nou-technical  phraseology,  what  he  wishes  his  hearers  to  understand. 
He  mentioned  at  the  outset,  that  as  doctors  of  medicine  dissected  the 
human  body,  that  they  might  understand  its  nature  and  requirements,  so 
had  botanists  and  vegetable  physiologists,  as  it  were,  dissected  plants,  to 
have  complete  knowledge  of  them.  Thus  the  seeds  were  found  to  consist 
of  certain  elements,  that  to  enable  them  to  germinate  or  reproduce  their 
kind  needed  air,  warmth,  and  moisture.  Moisture  changed  solid  starch 
into  a  soft  or  pap-like  compound,  capable  of  being  utilised  as  food  by  the 
infant  plant.  That  in  development  consisted  of  stem,  which  always  grew 
to  the  light,  and  root  or  radicle,  which  either  by  force  of  gravitation  or 
other  cause  invariably  struck  earthwards.  Warmth  generated  growth,, 
light  gave  chlorophyll  or  protoplasm,  which  became  the  green  colouring 
of  the  stems  and  leafage,  and  was  the  vital  force  of  the  plant.  Plants 
breathed  or  respired,  as  animals  did.  Much  more  did  the  lecturer  tell 
his  young  audience,  and  added  interest  by  numerous  drawings  of  the 
conformation  of  roots  and  other  parts  of  plants.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks 
was  accorded  at  the  close. 
Labour-saving  Articles. 
Any  gardener  doubtless  is  pleased  when  he  can  find  in  machines,  or 
other  articles,  anything  which  lightens  labour,  or  enables  work  to  be 
